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A beautiful literary tribute to the poet, martyr, expatriate, outlaw, and original translator of the English Bible. In this personable, historical narrative, Teems brings wit and wisdom to the story of the English "Paul" who defied a tyrannical church in order to introduce God's Word to the common people. 304 pages, softcover from Nelson.

Publisher's Description

It was an outlawed book, a text so dangerous it could only be countered by the most vicious burnings, of books and men and women. But what book could incite such violence and bloodshed? The year is 1526. It is the age of Henry VIII and his tragic Anne Boleyn, of Martin Luther and Thomas More. The times are treacherous. The Catholic Church controls almost every aspect of English life, including access to the very Word of God. And the church will do anything to keep it that way.

Enter William Tyndale, the gifted, courageous heretic who dared translate the Word of God into English. He worked in secret, in exile, in peril, always on the move. Neither England nor the English language would ever be the same again.

With thoughtful clarity and a reverence that comes through on every page, David Teems shares a story of intrigue and atrocity, betrayal and perseverance. This is how the Reformation officially reached English shoresand what it cost the men who brought it there.

Praise for David Teems previous work Majestie

Teems . . . pulls together the story of this enigmatic king [ James] with humor and pathos . . . [A] delightful read in every way. PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Author Bio

Recording artist, songwriter, and speaker, David Teems is the author of Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice, Majestie: The King Behind the King James Bible, To Love is Christ, Discovering Your Spiritual Center, and And Thereby Hangs a Tale. Teems earned his BA in Psychology at Georgia State University. David and his wife Benita live in Franklin, Tennessee near their sons Adam and Shad.

"While Tyndale would have to learn Hebrew in Germany due to England's active Edict of Expulsion against the Jews, he works promininently into an age where Greek was available to the European scholarly community for the first time in centuries. Erasmus compiled and edited Greek Scriptures into the Textus Receptus--ironically, to improve upon the Latin Vulgate--following the Renaissance-fueling Fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the dispersion of Greek-speaking intellectuals and texts into a Europe which previously had access to none." I knew that he had translated some of the Bible from Latin to English, but I didn't know how much he had done with a target on his back. This was an inspiring and convicting read at the same time. We owe a great debt to William Tyndale! I learned a great deal about Tyndale and those around him and the controversy surrounding the translation of the Bible into the English language. Read this ad get ready to amazed-- cared a lot for you Bible. You have to read this now!

I never knew much about this influential man, even as Teem's confesses he is often just a 'ghost of a man' when it comes to biographic information. So it is difficult to build up a true picture of Tyndale who left a permanent indelible mark upon English speaking Christians. His translation of the Bible into English has served as the foundation on which other translations seek to build. Even the venerable King James Bible owes much to Tyndale from the century prior.

So this is the man that this book seeks to biography. Teems seems to meander around behind Tyndale, turning over the loose rocks or peering through the bushes as he seeks to build up the fullest possible picture of the man. The narrative looks to those around Tyndale, to understand his associates and opponents is to understand something of him.

It makes for a fulfilling and interesting read and is certainly not a dry intellectual account, although Teems has plenty of research to call on no doubt.

I recently read Tyndale by David Teems, and I can't say enough about this book. Mr. Teems gives a brief background of Wycliffe and a few others, setting up for the story of William Tyndale. It is a masterful work, I couldn't put this book down. All the trials and persecutions that these men went through to give us the Bible that we use today, gave me a new appreciation for my Bible and I hope I never again take for granted the sacrifices that were made to have the scripture in English today. To God be the Glory!!!!!!!!!

You may know the story of Tyndale, a man consumed by the goal to translate the Bible so every English plough boy could read it, a man hunted as a heretic and eventually martyred for his work.

Tyndale by David Teems does not focus on this story, but rather tells the tale of his work, his world, and his influence on the English language. With extensive research and numerous excerpts from the writings of Tyndale and others, Teems shows how Tyndale was shaped by the Word, not by the violent and crude world around him. He shows how Tyndale's translation of the Bible, echoed in the King James Version, formed the basis of modern English, deeply influencing Shakespeare and all who followed. And he explains Tyndale's beliefs, expressed in his books as well as in his Bible notes.

This is a brilliant book, illuminating the Reformation era as much as Tyndale's life. I expected to learn about Tyndale when I picked up this book. I also learned about the English language, Sir Thomas More, everyday assumptions of the day, and serving Godâ€”the quotes from Tyndale abound with insight on serving God.

Teems is unlike his subject, though. His language is high flown and occasionally bombastic. His assumptions and comments show a man who seems, to me, to stand aside from rather than beside Tyndale.

If you are looking for a story about Tyndale, you will need to look elsewhere. If, however, you're looking for a careful analysis of his work, personality, language use, and times, this book will be a joy, except where the author intrudes. Recommended for older teens and adults.

History has done a poor job with the memories and accomplishments of William Tyndale. David Teems has set out to make a correction to this egregious error.

It is through the work of William Tyndale that we have the framework of our English language as we know it today. Reading the prologue is beneficial as you will learn something about our idioms and you will acquire a better picture of the setting in which William Tyndale undertook this major task.

William Tyndale was a graduate of Oxford University and possessed a love for the scriptures which became his driving motivation for his most important life mission - translating the scriptures from the Latin, Greek, and original Hebrew. This task would prove to be perilous, as it was in conflict with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. As such, Tyndale would be branded an heretic. He had to constantly hide his work as it was considered blasphemous by the Church and, when found, were confiscated and burned. Undeterred, he persisted in his work to create an English speaking God and make the Bible available to all.

For all of his work, Tyndale was finally apprehended and was executed on October 6, 1536.

David Teems has done a great service through his dedicated research published in this book. For anyone who truly wants to understand the value we have in the blessed book we sometimes treat so carelessly, you should put this book on the top of your reading list. Tyndale was not alone as a martyr for his work on translations of the original texts, but he probably did more to birth some of the English phrases in the original KJV text than any other man.

This book receives my highest recommendation!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through their bloggers review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."